Washing machine drive mechanism



Nov. 28, 1950 v. E. DUNN WASHING MACHINE DRIVE MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed March 15, 1935 MENTEJFL EIY WU ATTEFENEY'E:

Nov. 28, 1950 v. E. DUNN WASHING MACHINE DRIVE MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed March 15, 1955 lNyENTEIIR.. WM 6: M

W'" W 23:1": EDENEYE Reissued Nov. 28, 1950 WASHING MACHINE DRIVE MECHANISM Vernon E. Dunn, Alliance, hio, assignor to The Dexter Company, Fairfield, Iowa, a corporation of Iowa Original No. 2,153,301, dated April 4, 1939, Serial No. 11,187, March 15, 1935.

Application for reissue May 2, 1950, Serial No. 159,639

Matter enclosed in heavy brackets appears in the original patent but forms no part of this reissue specification; matter printed in italics indicates the additions made by reissue Claims.

This invention is directed to drive mechanism for washing machine dollies and has for one of its objects the provision of a simple, efficient mechanism by means of which the power source of a washing machine mechanism is connected with the dolly thereof to operate the same in a satisfactory manner.

Another object is to provide a washing machine drive mechanism comprising a rotatable member having an eccentric connection with [an oscillatablc member, said oscillatable member having geared connection with a washing machine dolly whereby oscillative movements of said member brings about alternately reverse rotation of the dolly] a reciprocatory rack member mounted on a round guide bar in an arrangement such that the member is held by the bar in sliding contact with the rotatable member and thus prevented from turning on the bar.

Other objects will appear in the following description and accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a sectional plan view showing portions of a washing machine drive mechanism embodying my invention, the view being taken approximately on line in Fig. 4.

Fig. 2 is a fragmental view taken from line 22 in Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a plan view similar to Fig. l with certain parts shown as they actually appear; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional View in elevation showing details of elements to be described.

Figs. 3 and 4 disclose my invention as embodied in a washing machine mechanism which includes a conventional tub Hi, a dolly mounted to rotate therein, a vertical shaft |2 by means of which the dolly is operated, and an electric motor l3 having driving connection with the mechanism through a belt I4.

The apparatus would obviousl include means for supporting the mechanism and tub, but such elements are thought sufficiently well known as to obviate detail showing and description herein.

In accordance with my invention a crank disc in the form of a gear I5 is affixed to one end of a horizontal shaft ||i which is journalled adjacent to the gear in a bearing formed in a housing and support structure l8. At its opposite end the shaft I6 is journalled in a bearing l9 formed in an associated housing and support structure 20.

To the outer end of shaft IE is secured a mitre gear 2| meshing with a mitre 22 which latter is afllxed to a vertical shaft 23, the latter providing means for driving a wringer not shown but which is conventionally included in a washing machine apparatus.

2 Gear I5 is meshed with a pinion 24 aflixed to a shaft 25' journalled in bearings 26 and 21 formed in structure IS. A pulley 28 is affixed to the outer end of shaft 25 and the belt l4 provides driving connection between the pulley and motor l3.

Gear l5, upon its face at the adjacent side of a member 3|, carries a stud 29 oifset from the axial center of the gear, which stud is provided with a roller 29' and is disposed and propor-' since this provides a relatively inexpensive and a very simple and effective construction. While it permits the member 3| to adiust'itself to a certain extent with respect to the gear |5, thef stud and roller 29, 29 and the pinion 34, in.

order to prevent the member 3| from varying from a proper position as respects the relationship between the rack 33 and pinion 34, those substantially parallel portions of member 3| which define the slot 30, project outwardly from the main body of member 3| as shown at 35 and are adapted to extend over and at all times to lie closel adjacent to a side portion 36 of the gear,

l5, Should the member 3| tend to pivot about the bar 32 to an undesirable extent, contact of portions 35 with portions 36 will limt the move' ment and will retain member 3| in its proper position regardless of its reciprocatory movements along bar 32.

Operation of the device is as follows:

Gear I5 is rotated by motor l3, and stud 29, carried thereby, slides in groove 30 during the vertical component of its movement but carries member 3| with it during the horizontal component of its movement and by reason of this interengagement member 3| is caused to move to and fro upon bar 32. The movement is indicated in outline in Fig. 2.

The described movement of member 3|, through the connection afforded by rack 33 with dolly pinion 34 obviously brings about oscillative rotative operation of the dolly I' whereby to produce a well known washing action.

The foregoing has described an embodiment of my invention. Modifications of structure are obviously possible without alteration of the principle involved.

I do et h m sa g ns ac ras fi ithin ,thej'scope "izdf tljiei appended What I claim is:

[1. Means for oscillating a washing machine dolly, said dolly having a vertical shattering drive pinion on said shaft, said means ,comprising a round bar mounted horizontally, airlember tion of said memberon said bar] 2. Means for oscillating a washing machine ly having a verticalshaftiancl a dr e fiinibn on said shaft, said "meafisfcoiiip'fis round barmount'ed horizontally, member "dable fonsaid bar; rack teeth on said member en aging said pinion, a Crank disc mountedjfor rotation [and] on a horiedntalhi'is' 'pribendicz lqr to said bar and intersecting the arts of the wa i m s i i t be n rad i W' -d ,[IaJ side "or said me ber obposite'sa dirdck teeth, rank pin'p'rojecting froin'the faceiof said crank ,"said member" having "a groove extending transversely of said rackfand receiving saidpin, said member having portions extending fabjobe qnd ,below the axis of the disc and v,l iedring [adapted to bear] against the face of said disc to prevent'any substantial pivoting in either direction of said member on saidbar.

3. Means for oscillating a washing machine dolly, including a gear housing, a vertical dolly shaft extending from said housing, a drive pinion on said shaft, a horizontal round slidebanamem ber'slidable on said bar, rack teeth on said memtier engaging'said pinion, a disc affixed to a horizontal shaft extending from said housingfinterengaging means between said disc and member for effectin reciprocation of said member'by rotation of said disc, said disc and member hav ing mutually contactable portions preventing any substantial pivoting'ci said member on said bar.

4. Means for Osc llating a washing machine dql y including a gear housing, a vertical dolly shaft extending from said housing, adrive, pinion on said sha a horiZjO ital slide'bair, a member slidable on said bani-ack teeth on saidmember.- engaging said pinion, a'disc afiixed to 'ahoriz'ontal 5 shaftextendii g from said housing, interengaging Hi s t S i a ms q efissis said 'inember dolly, including a gear housing, shaft extending from said housing, a drive pinion ing reciprocation of said member by rotation of said disc, said disc and member having mutually ,contactable portions preventing any substantial pivoting of ,said. member ,lon said Eba'r.

5. Means for oscillating a washing machine a vertical dolly "on saidshaft, a horizontal slide bar, a member slidable, ,on said bar, rack teeth on said member vengaging said pinion, a disc aflixed to a horizontal shaft extending from said housing, inter-engaging means between said disc and member for effecting Lrecip'rocatirin of said member by rotation of said disc, said disc and member having mutually contactable portions preventing any substantial pivoting of said member on said bar, said disc ,egrtendingdownward ,to the lowermost part of the ousin whereby lubrication is providedthe other 'partsby rotation of the disc.

6. In a washing machine having a gear housing and a perticaldolly shaft journalled in said housing and having a spur pinion non-rotatably secured thereto, a, disc mounted for rotation on a horizontal axis perpendicular to the dolly shaft nndhooing one side face spaced from the dolly shaft, a horizontal bar mounted in said housing axis of thedisc in perpendicular relation to the and disposed between the disc and the doll shaft,

a rack member slidab' le on said bar and having rack teeth on one side thereof meshing with said pinion, said rack member having a vertically elongated portion extending above and below the bar and having a vertical groove therein on the side opposite said rack teeth, and a member mounted eccentrically of the disc and bearing in said groove, said vertically elongated portion of the rack member bearing on the face of the to hold the rack member against pivotal move,- ment on the bar.

VERNON E. DULNN.

, REFERENCE S CITED The following references are of record in the patented file of this patent or the original patent: I 

